1988 Cos d'Estournel 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe - Half Bottle

Under the direction of Bruno Prats, technical decisions at Cos d’Estournel emphasized the estate’s unique position on the deep Garonne gravel ridges of southern Saint-Estèphe to maximize structural longevity. The vineyard’s south-facing orientation and heavy clay subsoils provided crucial water retention during the exceptionally dry 1988 growing season, allowing for slow, steady physiological ripening. This vintage is defined by its classicist profile, where a temperate harvest period preserved a high-toned acid line and avoided the sugar-driven weight characteristic of more solar years. The resulting wine is built on a rigid architectural framework of resolute, fine-grained tannins and a linear, dense mid-palate. In this half-bottle format, the 1988 maintains its focused energy and structural poise, exemplifying the site's ability to translate a cooler vintage into a wine of unwavering precision.